Chapter 2: Bites Are Worse Than Barks

My Apartment – 5:47 am

Reading the files on the mission, I soon learned my objectives. First we have to take a ship, a train, and then a plane to get to the organization's facility. Walker had been spying on the facility for the past few months while she was still in Barcelona. Damn woman! Why did she have to come along? Why is it that she reminds me of her?

Suddenly, the taxi which was supposed to transport me was there. I got out of my apartment and stepped into it, carrying my bag of ammunition and supplies. As I was waiting for the drive to end, I propped my elbow on the door's window frame and leaned my chin on my fist, just thinking about Walker. That face…it reminds me so much of her. That thought caused me to sigh. Bruce was probably right, I shouldn't keep thinking about the past; it keeps haunting me everyday.

Docks – 6:09 am

Arriving at the docks was no problem but meeting with Walker was. When I looked out the window and saw her, I felt like I wanted to lock myself inside or just push her in the cab and continue the mission by myself. She looked even angrier than yesterday. Still hasn't forgiven me I guess. Stepping out of the taxi, she came over to me with a cranky face and growled.

"What took you so long?! I don't have all day!"

"What are you talking about? I came on time."

"You're nine minutes late." She sternly said as she crossed her arms.

"What's the big deal? I'm just nine minutes late and the ship hasn't left yet."

"Just shut up and get up there!" She commanded me.

"Geez, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed."

Walker groaned. "Don't get the wrong idea of me."

"Chill, Walker. I'm just playing."

She rolled her eyes and walked ahead. She said no more to me.

After having our tickets checked and located our cabin, the ship finally had set sail and it's going to take a day or so to head to the next destination. Our cabin was third class but was in pretty good condition.

"You'll take the bottom and I'll take the top." she said, being snooty and all. When it comes to bunk beds, I'd always take the top but if I do it here, Walker might just toss me down or something. It looks like I've got no choice or else.

Lying on the lumpy bed, I felt that this was going to be a long trip. Several hours have passed and the sun has set. I was lying on my rather not so comfy bed, barefooted and shirtless but still had my jeans on. I was half awake but still didn't feel the need to sleep.

"Walker?" I called out, hoping her mockery could entertain me for a while.

"What?" Her voice was at least gentler then before, weirdly. Hmm, must be halfway to dreamland. Good for me.

"Are you still up?"

"I'm just checking our procedures. Why'd ya ask?"

"Not that there was any reason."

There was a sudden moment of silence consuming the room, making my time feel a bit wasted.

"Boring isn't it?" I could hear her yawn, sounding like she had over worked a bit.

"Definitely boring..."

"Better hit the sack?" She asked.

"Better hit the sack."

I could hear the sound of the bed moaning, most probably because she was lying down. Silence was stirring up in the room again, enticing me to close my eyes. After I had my eyelids shut, out of the blue, a sound made me immediately sit up with eyes wide opened; it was a woman screaming.

"What was that?" Walker asked.

"I better check it out."

I got up from my bed and pushed my pillow aside on the bed. Under it was the two pistols I had placed there earlier. Walker jumped down from the upper bunk and I saw that she was wearing a white tank top and black nylon pants. I threw one of the 9mms to her and signaled to move forward to the door.

"Watch my back." I whispered. She nodded in reply.

I slowly but slightly opened the door and peeked out, seeing that the hallway outside of our room was very dark; none of the side lamps were on. I took a flashlight out of my pocket and switched it on. I stepped into the hallway looking at both directions from where I stood with the light positioned to everywhere I turned -- including the 9mm. There then was a moan coming from my left and I turned to that direction. I pointed my flashlight and gun, side to side, searching for the cause of such a disturbing moan. As I brought my eyes down to the floor, I could see a trail of blood smeared on the floor. I followed the trail along with Walker behind me until I came to something I didn't want to see. I found the cause of the blood -- a body. It was a woman's corpse. Still in her robes, she was very bloody and ripped to shreds.

"What could've done this?" Walker asked in disgust. I couldn't possibly bring a thought of what could've done such a slaughter. I couldn't look at it any longer that I stood up and gazed into the black void in front of me.

"I have no idea but I think we should get back to the cabin."

"Alright." was the only reply she gave me.

As I turned on my heel, I heard infuriated growls from behind. I didn't want to turn to look but I didn't hesitate. I looked over my shoulder, glancing at the dark area behind me. Just to make sure that there was nothing there; I shed light on the dark portion with my flashlight and saw four orange beady eyes that were illuminated by it. I stood there frozen; my heart was pounding so intensely that I could hear it. Walker was walking ahead of me without noticing that I wasn't following her back to the room or that there was something there. I had to inform her about whatever was stalking us in a discreet way.

"Walker!" I loudly whispered to get her attention. I now can hear the growls coming from behind me, getting even louder.

"What?" she was unaware of what was happening.

"Run by the count of three."

"What?"

"Just trust me. Run to the cabin and don't look back."

"What are you talking about--?"

"One, two, three, go!" I yelled.

She was able to get into the cabin before me. I still ran and looked back, seeing that two deadly and repulsive Cerberuses were chasing me. They were much bigger and more rabid than the one's I've battled against in Raccoon. They were more muscular as if they had been going on steroids. I ran as fast as I could to the room and sprinted myself into it, kicking the door behind me, feeling the two Cerberuses collide against the impact of it closing. I could hear the sounds of scratches and barks from outside the door. A strong bang then was heard. I locked the door and pushed the desk from the side to barricade it. I pushed it against the door with all the strength I had, to buy more time before we become dog food.

"What's going on?" Walker asked worryingly.

"There's no time to explain. Find us a way out."

We looked around for something that could help us escape. I had my eyes more focused on the door. Walker looked up and found the way out of here.

"Will the air vent be much of use?" She pointed.

"Can you climb up there?" She nodded in reply.

She grabbed her things then pulled the chair that was beside the bunks to the center of the room where the vent was. She stepped on the chair and mounted her foot on its top rail. She tried opening the vent but the grate was screwed tight. She then starts hitting it forcibly with the end of the handgun. After a few seconds more, the grate broke off and fell to the floor, causing a metal crashing sound to echo in the room. She then bolted up into that small opening.

"Hurry!" she gestured.

I readied myself to run while pushing my back against the desk. I then immediately stopped fortifying the door then ran to my bed to pick up my bag and shoes. As I went up the chair, I saw that the two Cerberus had gashed a small hole in the door but still kept clawing at it to get inside. I stepped on the chair's top rail and reached for the small opening. I pulled half of myself up, with all my weight supported on my forearms. Suddenly, I heard wood break that I looked down, seeing that the Cerberuses have barged in. One of them jumped, aiming for my leg but instead jumped on the chair, causing it to fall to the ground, leaving me dangling with no extra support to climb up. Walker pulled my arms and dragged most of me except my right leg inside the vent. One of the Cerberus jumped up, going for my leg again. Luckily, Walker grabbed my thigh and pulled it up just on time before it could become a chew toy. The Cerberuses were circling under vent's opening and kept jumping up, trying to get in. I was lying on my back, taking a breather.

"Thanks, Walker." I then got on my knees.

"That might as well prove me qualified, right?"

"I don't think so." I said, crawling ahead of her through the narrow passage.

"You just won't admit it." She then started following me.

"Admit?"

"Admit that I'm just as good as you."

"Now isn't the time for debates. We have to get out of here."

"Hey! Stop changing the topic!"

"I'm serious. Just keep quiet for ten minutes and let me find us a way out of here."

"Fine but don't expect me to save your precious leg next time."

I sighed, seeing that this conversation was pointless. I felt like I was bringing a child with me. She thinks that ranks are more important than anything else. Boy, being partnered was definitely a mistake.

We crawled and crawled to many directions and couldn't find our way out. I was getting tired of the heat inside and could no longer support my weight on my hands. I had to get out of there somehow. Out of the blue, I heard skittering against metal from not so far. I decide to move on with haste rather than encounter what caused it.

"Walker, move!" I whispered.

We went through another direction, left and right, trying to get away from the sound which kept getting louder and louder with an aggravating breathing. As I was going further into the dark, I suddenly felt nothing under my hand then I felt Walker bump against me, causing me too fall into an opening which leads me to land on something soft. I then felt something heavy fall on me and it wasn't a nice feeling.

"Walker, do you mind?" I winced.

"Sorry." Walker apologized as she squirmed off my torso.

As soon as she got off of me, I brought the beaming glow of my flashlight on the hole I fell through. I saw nothing there and brought the light down to the thing I landed on. I was in a laundry basket full of grubby towels. I got out and flicked the light switch on. We were in a laundry room and it appeared that no struggle was caused. I then walked to the door and tried to open it. The unsatisfactory thing was that it was lock.

"Damn!" I yelled, kicking the door in exasperation. Still, there was no use for kicking it down since that it was tightly bolted. Electronically locked I think.

"So what do we do now?" Walker asked.

"Hmm…what about the laundries shoot?" I suggested as I put my shoes on and tied the laces.

"You've gotta be kidding me." she crossed her arms.

"What other choice do we have? And there's no way that I can fit in there" I tried convincing as I slipped on a white shirt on me.

"Point taken but I do wish that there would have been a better way." She admitted her defeat and agreed with the plan.

She pokes her head in the shoot and sees that it's just at least ten feet up to the next floor. She puts on her boots, grabbed her bag, and got inside.

"Is there any last words you wanna tell me before I leave?"

"Yeah…Walker, watch your back."

"Gee, thanks for the not so helpful advice and by the way, the name's Elza." she informed as she climbed up. Gee, she does have a first name after all, I mused.